Compared to other media, podcasts are a relatively recent form of entertainment. They’re pretty convenient, too, as you can listen to them on the subway, while on the treadmill, inside a waiting room, or as you brew your morning coffee.
And some of them have become so famous that they are now a part of popular culture and even have their own niche fandoms. Better yet, they are now being adapted to television shows, web series and even movies. Here are some upcoming adaptations you should check out, along with some podcasts that totally deserve their own adaptation.
Turned Into A TV Show: Lore
It was made into a horror anthology television series and ran for two seasons.
Deserves An Adaptation: You Must Remember This
You Must Remember This is a wonderful podcast that looks into the forgotten history of Hollywood and tells us stories that would’ve otherwise been lost or remained hidden. It was created by Karina Longworth, who was formerly a film critic at LA Weekly.
It would work pretty well on TV too, as a documentary show in black and white, with each episode focusing on controversial or ignored aspects of classic Hollywood and their stars and making us rethink our attitude towards the film industry.
Turned Into A TV Show: Homecoming
A lot of podcasts focus on crime, mystery and detective stories, and that’s not a surprise because the medium is perfect for it. And it’s also a genre that translates well into film/TV.
Homecoming is one of the best and most innovative mystery podcasts out there that uses materials like heard conversations and phone calls to tell a gripping story. It was recently made into a psychological thriller web series and released on Prime Video, and it starred Julia Roberts in the lead.
Deserves An Adaptation: The Black Tapes
If fictional mystery podcasts are your thing, then give The Black Tapes a listen. It follows the exploits of a journalist as she tries to uncover the truth of Dr. Richard Strand, a paranormal investigator who left behind several unsolved cases involving the supernatural.
Now isn’t that the perfect material for a Supernatural meets docudrama-themed TV show?
Turned Into A TV Show: Dirty John
Another exceptional true-crime podcast, Dirty John narrates the story of John Meehan and his abusive and fraught relationship with businesswoman Debra Newell. At only 8 episodes, it made for an intense binge-listening session that won’t take up too much of your week.
Moreover, it was even adapted to a TV show last year, which even garnered a Golden Globe nomination. A second season is currently in development.
Deserves An Adaptation: Hello From the Magic Tavern
Do you like fantasy and comedy? Then give Hello From the Magic Tavern a try. It is an improvised comedy podcast set in the magical realm of “Foon” where a fictional version of Arnie Niekamp (one of the producers) lands in, after falling through a portal behind a Burger King in Chicago.
It regularly features guest stars and has acquired quite a fan base. Perhaps an animated adaptation of the series could be the next best thing.
Turned Into A TV Show: 2 Dope Queens
If you’re in the mood for comedy, there’s always 2 Dope Queens, which was adapted to a 4-episode miniseries by HBO last year. The hugely-successful podcast features guest stars on every episode and thoughtfully uses comedy to explore issues of race, gender, class and the like.
Past guest stars included Daniel Radcliffe, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Lupita Nyong’o. Clocking in at 8 episodes per season, two seasons have been released. Each episode spans approximately an hour each, making for an engrossing listen.
Deserves An Adaptation: Judge John Hodgman
Judge John Hodgman is a comedy court show podcast with a new episode released every week. Host John Hodgman acts as a judge of petty fictionalized disputes, and it’s pretty hilarious.
With over 300 episodes produced, the material is perfect for a sitcom adaptation. Regularly listed as one of the best comedy podcasts to listen to, it even has a newspaper column in The New York Times Magazine.
Turned Into A TV Show: Welcome To Nightvale
Even those who don’t listen to podcasts will have heard of Welcome To Nightvale. Mixing elements of the surreal, urban gothic, and news telecasts, listening to Welcome To Nightvale is one magical experience. Every episode details the events, news, and advertisements pertaining to the fictional desert town of Nightvale. This is a world where conspiracy theories are real and life just moves on.
Although we do not have a release date yet, a television adaptation has been in the making since December 2017 and being developed for FX. Equal parts eerie and absurd comedy, make sure you check it out before the show comes out.
Deserves An Adaptation: Alice Isn’t Dead
From the same team as Welcome To Nightvale, Alice Isn’t Dead is a podcast that tells the story of a truck driver as she searches all of America for her presumably-dead wife. Told over a series of audio diaries, the show blends Americana, mystery, horror, and drama into a compelling and nerve-wracking story.
If you’re looking for something creepy to make a long road trip across lonely highways more exciting, give this podcast a chance—the material is perfect for a web series. Although a television series is in development already, no other details have been released yet. Which is your favorite podcast of the lot?
